Advantages of Fluid Applied Air and Vapor Barriers

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Fluid Applied Air and Vapor Barriers offer a number of performance advantages over polymeric weather resistive barriers (building wraps), and traditional asphalt-impregnated felt or paper barriers. Fluid applied air and vapor barriers are used in all types of wall construction including over gypsum and cement-based sheathings, OSB, plywood, CMU, and prepared concrete. Most fluid applied barriers consist of:

Joint and fastener treatment products that include options for treating sheathing joints, rough openings, inside and outside corners, and small cracks;

Fabrics, meshes and tapes used in conjunction with the joint and fastener treatment products to reinforce the treated areas;

A coating that is spray, roller, or trowel applied over the entire substrate.

Provide a seamless moisture barrier with no tears, holes, or lap joints;

Protect the sheathing and rough openings from weather damage during and after construction;

Will not lose their effectiveness due to long-term weather exposure;

Will not blow off the wall during wind events.

Fluid applied air and vapor barriers provide the owner an effective and economical means of protecting the structure long-term. The use a fluid applied air and vapor barriers are recommended for a number of construction conditions and provide significant performance advantages. While fluid applied barriers offer a number of advantages, it’s important to understand that self-adhering membranes also offer benefits that should also be considered when determining the appropriate barrier for the project. Those advantages will be addressed in a future post.